Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Easy riders in Colorado

Local boarders shred Breck pipe


By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer

Four members of the Sun Valley Snowboard Team stepped up on the big stage at the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Breckenridge, Colo., Dec. 14-15.

Kaitlyn Farrington, Heather Black, Kenny Ballou and Scott Pike competed in an international halfpipe field featuring the likes of Shaun White, Steve Fisher, Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter.

"It was the deepest field I have seen at a Grand Prix since the Olympics," Sun Valley coach Andy Gilbert said. "What was really great for the kids was the realization that the big guys are getting ready exactly the same way they are."

The 18-year-old Farrington, a member of the U.S. Rookie Team, spent the week with the U.S. riders and coaches and it paid off by the end of the week.

Farrington finished sixth overall in the women's division with a score of 29.7. Two-time X-Games champion Bleiler nabbed the win with a 45.3. Kelly Clark (42.6) and Hannah Teter (41.9) were second and third.

"Gold medalist, gold medalist, U.S. Open champ, Rookie of the Year, an international competitor, and Kaitlyn from Bellevue, Idaho. It's pretty amazing," Gilbert said. "The U.S. coaches were really happy with her progress. That is her highest finish ever at a Grand Prix."

Gilbert said Black "rode with a lot of confidence," in a 34th-place finish.

Olympic gold medalist Shaun White nabbed the top spot on the men's side with a 48.4. Hometown honey Steve Fisher was runner-up at 47.8.

In a field of more than 100 competitors, Ballou finished 50th and Pike was 53rd.

"The level of progression with those guys was amazing. They are riding about mid-season form. Kenny was throwing absolutely huge air. Scott had back to back 900s," Gilbert said. "All the kids worked really hard and had great results. It was an awesome way to start the season."

The event will air on NBC (local cable channel 7) on Saturday, Dec. 22, at 1 p.m. MST, and on Versus on Dec. 30, at 3 p.m. On-demand Webcast is available at WCSN.com.




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